Echinacea plant named ‘Echgol243’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Echgol243’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; numerous large single-type inflorescences with bright golden yellow-colored ray florets and dark orange-colored receptacle spines; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Echinacea hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ECHGOL243’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea hybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Echgol243’.

The new Echinacea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to develop new freely flowering andrelatively compact Echinacea plants with unique and attractive rayfloret coloration.

The new Echinacea plant originated from a cross-pollination in July,2012 in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands of Echinacea hybrida ‘Cleopatra’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,631, as the female, or seed, parentwith Echinacea hybrida ‘Julia’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,629,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinacea plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands in July, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled environment in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands sinceOctober, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Echinaceaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Echgol243’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Echgol243’ as a new and distinct Echinaceaplant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Strong flowering stems.    -   5. Numerous large single-type inflorescences with bright golden        yellow-colored ray florets and dark orange-colored receptacle        spines.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Cleopatra’. Plants of the new Echinacea differ from plants of‘Cleopatra’ primarily in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of‘Cleopatra’ are soft yellow in color. In addition, plants of ‘Cleopatra’are more freely branching than plants of the new Echinacea.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Julia’. Plants of the new Echinacea differ from plants of‘Julia’ primarily in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of‘Julia’ are orange in color. In addition, plants of ‘Julia’ are morefreely branching than plants of the new Echinacea.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinaceapurpurea ‘Avalanche’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,597. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Echinacea differed primarily from plants of ‘Avalanche’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea were shorter than plants of        ‘Avalanche’.    -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea were not as freely branching as        plants of ‘Avalanche’.    -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea and ‘Avalanche’ differed in ray        floret color as ray florets of plants of ‘Avalanche’ were white        in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Echinacea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Echinacea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Echgol243’ grown in ground beds in anoutdoor nursery and placed in a 17.5 cm by 22 cm container for thephotograph.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of a typicalinflorescence (upper photograph) and the upper surface of a typical leaf(lower photograph) of ‘Echgol243’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in ground beds inan outdoor nursery in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typically used in commercial Echinacea production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 32° C.and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 20° C. Plants were eightmonths old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida ‘Echgol243’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Echinacea hybrida ‘Cleopatra’, disclosed in            U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,631.        -   Male parent.—Echinacea hybrida ‘Julia’, disclosed in U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 24,629.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at            temperatures about 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically pale cream in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright            and relatively compact plant habit, narrow inverted            triangle; freely branching habit with about 20 lateral            branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 54.9 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 43.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 33.4 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 8.7 cm. Aspect: Erect to about            10° from vertical. Strength: Very strong. Texture: Densely            pubescent; strigose; slightly rough. Color: Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Basal leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About            14.9 cm. Width: About 6.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly            ovate; slightly concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire to shallowly dentate; undulate. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent,            strigose; rough; moderately glossy. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly            darker than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A;            venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144C. Petioles,            basal leaves: Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Height: About 4 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Glabrous except along the margins,            sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture, lower surface:            Glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 145A;            margins, close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close to            144C; margins, close to 147C.        -   Cauline leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 9.3 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly            ovate; slightly concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire to shallowly dentate; undulate. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent,            strigose; moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker            than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A;            venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144C. Petioles,            cauline leaves: Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Height: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Glabrous except for along the            margins, sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture, lower            surface: Glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            145A; margins, close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close            to 144C; margins, close to 147C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Large single-type inflorescences with ray and            disc florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences            positioned upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright            and strong peduncles.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 60            inflorescences developing per plant during the flowering            season.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; somewhat acidic, pleasant.        -   Time to flower.—In the garden, plants flower continuously            from early July to late September in The Netherlands.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About            3.7 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Involucral bracts,            close to 144A to 144B; ray florets, close to between 151C            and 154C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10.5 cm. Depth (height):            About 5.1 cm. Disc diameter: About 4.1 cm. Receptacle            height: About 1.2 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Receptacle color: Close to NN155A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 27 arranged in            a single whorl at the base of the receptacle. Length: About            4.9 cm. Width: About 1.15 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:            Praemorse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            surface: Glabrous; velvety; longitudinally ridged. Texture,            lower surface: Glabrous; longitudinally ridged. Luster,            upper surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Slightly            glossy. Aspect: Horizontal to drooping, about 20° from            horizontal. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to            N25C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 18B. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 25A; towards the base,            tinged with close to 13A; color becoming closer to between            15A and 16A with development; with subsequent development,            color becoming closer to 11B and 160B. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 16B and 23D; color becoming closer to 8C            with development; with subsequent development, color            becoming closer to 150B to 150C.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 400 per            inflorescence, spirally at the center. Length: About            1.15 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Tubular; proximally,            15% free, not fused. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Luster, inner and outer surfaces: Glossy. Color, when            opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 144A to            144B. Mid-section: Close to 144C. Base: Close to 144A to            144B. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex:            Close to 144A to 144B. Mid-section: Close to 144C. Base:            Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret. Shape:            Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Luster: Glossy. Color: Apex: Close to 23A.            Mid-section: Close to 144A. Base: Close to 144C.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 80            arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 8 mm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Moderately            pubescent. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color,            upper surface: Close to N137A. Color, lower surface: Close            to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 9.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 30° from            vertical. Texture: Sparsely pubescent; strigose. Color:            Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc            florets): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About            3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther length: About            3 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to            200A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 17A.            Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Quantity per            floret: One. Pistil length: About 7.5 mm. Stigma shape:            Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close to 150B. Style            length: About 6 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color:            Close to 157D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development            have not been observed on plants of the new Echinacea.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Echinacea have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good    garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new    Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about    35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Echgol243’as illustrated and described.